The soldier receives a garland of roses from his wife which will remain fresh as long as she is faithful, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourth Night Mughal India, court of Akbar (reigned 1556–1605)

The soldier receives a garland of roses from his wife which will remain fresh as long as she is faithful, from a Tuti-nama (Tales of a Parrot): Fourth Night

c. 1560

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Mughal India, court of Akbar

(reigned 1556–1605)

gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper

Painting only: 3.8 x 10.6 cm (1 1/2 x 4 3/16 in.); Overall: 20 x 14.3 cm (7 7/8 x 5 5/8 in.)

Gift of Mrs. A. Dean Perry 1962.279.27.a

Location: not on view

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Did You Know?

This work is attributed to the same unnamed artist who painted folio 45r (CMA 1962.279.45.a).

Description

Upon his departure, a warrior’s wife gives him roses that stay fresh as long as she remains faithful in his absence. This story reveals a connection between virtue and nature: the flowers remain fresh because of her loyalty.

The stories in the Tuti-nama reveal the interconnectedness of Indian, Persian, and Central Asian populations. The Persian retellings of Sanskrit tales found in this manuscript were completed in 1330 by the learned Central Asian Sufi author Ziya’ al-din Nakshabi working in Delhi, the capital of India. Indian and Persian artists worked together to illustrate this copy for the Mughal emperor Akbar.